At the Coalface
At the Coalface is a series of conversations hosted by Philippe Rose.
Philippe's guests share stories about their life beyond the headlines of international affairs. They look for lessons learned about making an impact in the world as practitioners in diplomacy, international organisations, NGOs, journalism and the private sector.
Many of Philippe's guests are connected by their common experience of taking time away from work to attend graduate school at the Fletcher School of Law and Diplomacy of Tufts University.
At the Coalface
Gul Rukh Rahman - The Rebel from Peshawar on the Politics of Philanthropy
In this episode, I speak with Gul Rukh Rahman, a woman whose life and work cross continents, cultures, and the fault lines of global politics.
Born in Pakistan and raised in countries including Libya and Saudi Arabia, Gul moved to the US for university before settling in Europe 15 years ago. She grew up in conservative Peshawar in the protective bubble of a military family, yet in a region marked by instability and violence, including bomb blasts during Eid celebrations. Family expectations came with tightly controlled choices for education and relationships, leading Gul to go on a hunger strike to avoid dentistry school.
Culturally hard to categorise and politically impossible to intimidate, Gul reflects on identity as a woman and a Muslim in the aftermath of 9/11, her decision to wear the hijab as a political statement, and the circumstances that prompted her to take it off. She chose activism over the safety of a corporate career, driven by a commitment to speak uncomfortable truths.
Now teaching at the University of Geneva, Gul works far beyond the classroom, advising philanthropists and nonprofits, investigating where the money really goes, and exposing the darker side of “doing good.” We dive into silent philanthropy, the geopolitics shaping global giving, and how vast wealth from the Global South still flows into bank accounts in Switzerland and Dubai while the South continues to “beg” the North.
This conversation blends biography, political critique, and a fearless look at philanthropy’s contradictions. Gul doesn’t pull her punches: and that’s exactly why you should listen.
Recorded on 24 July 2025.
Connect with Gul on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/in/gul-rukh-rahman-1b74604.
Instagram: @at.the.coalface
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